Soliman offers to stand in for Kessler against Mundine Interview by Anthony Cocks, Site Editor (April 29, 2005)

Sam Soliman

IBF #1 middleweight Sam Soliman has let the world know that he is willing to fight Anthony Mundine on less than two weeks notice after the former rugby league star’s original opponent, WBA super middleweight titleholder Mikkel Kessler, pulled out of the fight on Tuesday citing a back injury.

Speaking exclusively to DoghouseBoxing.com from his Sydney base where he is working as one of Kostya Tszyu’s main sparring partners for his upcoming bout with Ricky Hatton, Soliman said he is keen to get Mundine back in the ring to avenge his disputed twelve round split decision loss to ‘the Man’ in 2001.

“I’ll take the fight on Kessler’s behalf,” said Soliman, 30-7 (12), who was last in action on the undercard of Peden versus Campbell when he stopped Columbian Miguel Julio in four one-sided rounds. “It would be the perfect warm up.”

Soliman, a natural middleweight who fought for the Australian cruiserweight title in just his fourth professional fight, has no fear about moving up a division to rematch Mundine in what would effectively be a warm up bout for both boxers.

“Right now I’m about half a kilo under the weight, so I’m fine,” said Soliman.

While Soliman’s manager Stuart Duncan has previously stated he doesn’t want to see his charge drift out of his weight division, Kessler’s pullout represents a unique opportunity for the likeable Melbournian.

“When I spoke to Stuart he said the only guy that is worth fighting is a person that you’ve beaten before and you should’ve got the decision,” said the 31-year-old Collingwood supporter. “So in saying that it’s worth getting a rematch two weeks away as I not going to lose my IBF rating by doing it as it’s in the super middleweight division and two, I get my revenge and more than anything that’s what I want.